Klipspringer
Female Klipspringer
The Klipspringer ( Oreotragus oreotragus ) is a small African antelope. The name comes from the Afrikaans - Dutch klipspringer means " rock jumper ".
Features
The cliff divers as one of the most elegant representatives of antelope reached a shoulder height of about 60 cm and a body weight of 10-13 kg. The females are slightly larger and heavier than the males. The males carry beyond short, straight, widely spaced skewers, with a length of about 20-25 cm. In the northern stocks also bear the females horns.
With its rough, bristly, thick yellow to brown-gray fur, which has a mottled appearance and black on the bottom is white, they are hardly to be discovered before the " kopjes " ( boulders ). The belly, chin and lips are covered by white or cream-colored hair.
The Klipspringer has two characteristics that are an adaptation to life in a rocky habitat. He is the only antelope, running on the Hufspitzen. These are expired so that cylindrical hooves arise which leave a distinctive, two-circuit track. Through this specific form of their hooves Klipspringer have a better grip on smooth rock surfaces. As a second matching her coat is firm and thick. Each individual hair is hollow and bristle- like. The coat has a good insulation against temperature extremes of its high altitude habitats. It insulates against both extreme heat and extreme cold against.
Dissemination
This antelope is found by the South African Cape of Good Hope via East Africa to Ethiopia. It occurs among others in the following protected areas: Karoo, Mountain Zebra, Giant's Castle, Kruger Park, Namib -Naukluft, Hwange, Upemba, Tsavo, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Kilimanjaro and Samburu.
Way of life
Klipspringer hold generally on or near rocky hills or rock formations. Often you can discover motionless on the top of a high rock. Often you can read the listening nasal warning whistle of this species. Even in rough terrain, they are very nimble. In case of danger they flee usually not far, but stay after a short flight stand and watch the predator. It is often the warning whistle sound. However, this behavior also helps that can be easily Klipspringer hunt by humans.
One can find both couples and family groups; the males defend their territory. The couple relationships usually end only with the death of one of the two partners. Typical behavioral characteristics of the cliff jumper include the large droppings, which are usually set at the edge of Revieres. Females rub after defecating on nearby branches from their Voraugendrüsen, creating a thick, black substance is transferred to the branches. These give off a strong sweet scent when they are wet. Usually the male is his Durftmarke to those of the female. The cliff divers feed primarily on foliage.
The mating season of the Klipspringer runs from September to January. The gestation period is 214 days. The single offspring at birth weighs about 1 kg.
Man and Klipspringer
In various parts of Africa Klipspringer were hunted from time immemorial. From her skin to a leather can win, which is used for making bags. The meat should be very tasty. Due to the hunting of the cliff divers in the West African part of its range is almost extinct ( subspecies O. o porteousi ). Incidentally distribution area it is not considered threatened.